It can be a bit of a shock to notice that your hearing is muffled! Sometimes this happens to me and I anxiously wonder if age is catching up with me. Read further in the article on how to clean your ears correctly at home.

The good news is that in many cases this doesn't mean you've heard. Fortunately, the effect can usually be resolved by simply cleaning the ears.

To avoid damaging our delicate auditory system, you must learn proper earwax removal techniques. Read on to learn how to clean your ears.

Symptoms of a clogged ear

Symptoms of a clogged ear can vary in severity depending on the cause. Most often, you will have a feeling of fullness or pressure in your ears.

This may be accompanied by difficulty hearing, pain, a sound like wind, or the sensation of fluid in the ear.

Why do your ears feel clogged?

Your nose and ears are connected by tubes called eustachian tubes. These tubes open and close to regulate the pressure between your middle ear space and the outside air.

Many things can affect the function of these tubes, such as: wax buildup, water trapping, or nasal congestion.

When your eustachian tubes cannot open and close normally, the pressure system becomes unbalanced, leading to a “clogged” feeling.

What causes clogged ears?

The correct method for cleaning your ears will depend on what exactly is causing the blockage. Sometimes the cause is obvious—for example, the ears feel blocked after a flight or as part of a sinus infection.

However, it's often difficult to work out exactly what's going on with your ears behind the scenes, especially if you have no other symptoms. In these cases, it is best to have it checked by a doctor.

I'm going to explain some of the most common causes of blocked ears and some tips for each case. I hope they help point you in the right direction and help relieve your clogged ears.

Harvest

Every person produces earwax. It is designed to protect the ear from bacteria, insects, dirt and water.

An ear sore consists of dead skin cells, hair, and secretions from the cellulite and sebaceous glands in the ear canal.

The ear strip is usually self-regulating - the ear canal is cleaned in a conveyor system. Debris and dead cells are pushed out and removed.

However, if you have difficulty listening, you may have excessive earwax buildup. It is more common in men than in women. And also for those who have hearing aids. It can affect anyone at any stage of life.

Congestion

As I said before, your ears are connected to your nose and also to your sinuses. This means that a cold, flu, or sinus infection is affecting your ears as well as your respiratory system.

A buildup of mucus in the nasal passage can block the eustachian tubes, causing clogged ears.

Allergies such as hay fever or exposure to environmental irritants can have the same effect.

Treating the underlying condition will not only improve your cold and flu symptoms, but it will also relieve your clogged ears in this case.

Pressure changes

Pressure is an important factor in the proper functioning of your ears. If the external air pressure changes rapidly, it may cause the ossicular tubes to malfunction.

The most obvious example is the rapid ascent and descent of a plane ride. It can also occur in elevators in high-rise buildings and when traveling at height.

This type of clogged ear usually resolves within a few hours.

Ear infections

We discussed how an infection in your sinuses or nasal passage can cause problems for your ears. The ears are also at risk of infection.

If your ear is sensitive to the touch and you have pain inside, it is likely that you have an ear infection. You may also notice redness and swelling.

Ear infections are most common in young children, but they can occur in adults, especially if you are a swimmer.

Ear infections need to be treated with an antibiotic to kill the bacteria that is causing the problem. This may be in the form of ear drops or tablets. You will need to see your doctor for a prescription.

Trapped water

It's not just wax and mucus that can block our ears. Plain old water can also cause problems.

Many of us use earplugs to prevent this in the pool, but we can also feel trapped water while taking a bath or shower.

Usually the water drains out of the ear naturally, but sometimes it can get too deep and you need to manually remove it. There are several ways to do this, which I'll cover later.

Foreign body

This scenario mostly applies to children, but sometimes it happens to adults when an insect or piece of debris gets into the ear.

The best thing to do in this case is to have the object removed by a doctor. If you try to remove it without special tools, you may cause additional damage. It is also likely that the object will break and you will leave something behind.

Even if it doesn't get too annoying, the wax will begin to surround the object, eventually blocking the channel. You only get one set of ears, so it's better to take care of the situation sooner rather than later.

How to clean your ears correctly

1. “Pop” ear

You've most likely heard of ear popping, especially after a flight. This sensation results from the opening of the Eustachian tubes, allowing pressure to equalize.

There are many ways to manually touch your ears. Swallowing and jaw movement are associated with the eustachian tubes.

Chewing gum increases saliva, which in turn causes swallowing. Yawning may also be of some help.

Another technique with a long history is the Valsalva maneuver.

2. Home Remedies for Cleaning Ear Wax

If you have earwax buildup, you can create an effective solution with ingredients from your cupboard.

Basically you should use warm liquid to soften the wax. Oils pair well with the waxy consistency of sulfur. Abrasives such as hydrogen peroxide and vinegar can break down the wax.

To apply olive oil, warm it slightly by placing a cup of oil in warm water for a few minutes. Lie on your side with the corresponding ear facing up and apply a few drops into your ear.

Stay this way for 5 minutes, allowing the oils to penetrate deep into the ear. Place a cotton ball on your ear and turn it to the other side. Repeat this process. The oil and softened wax will drip onto the cotton ball.

You can use the exact same method with warm water.

If this doesn't produce the desired results, you can try a few drops of a mixture of equal parts apple cider vinegar and isopropyl alcohol or just 3% hydrogen peroxide.

If you use vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, be sure to remove all of the mixture after treatment, as leaving any residue can cause ear irritation. You can rinse your ear with a small amount of alcohol.

Don't use vinegar or hydrogen peroxide more than once a day for three days or you may damage the area and increase the risk of infection.

3. Using steam to clean your ear

Steam is a great way to cleanse your respiratory system and your ears. The heat can melt the wax, and the water droplets will release any mucus in the sinuses or nasal passage.

You have several different options for clearing blocked and stuffy ears. This can be as simple as taking a hot shower and inhaling deeply, or you can create a specialized facial steam.

I find facial steam to be very effective. I like to add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for an antiseptic effect. All you need to do is fill the pool with hot water, hold your head above it and cover your head with a towel.

Inhale the steam for about 15 minutes, topping up with hot water as needed. You should notice a big improvement if overuse is indeed the cause of your ear problems.

Another way to introduce moisture is to keep a warm, wet washcloth on your face or use a humidifier.

4. Saline ear rinse

Another way to introduce moisture into the nasal passages is to use a saline spray. Saline solution is a neutral solution of salt water that does not cause irritation.

5. Remove the trap

Injecting water can be great for mucus-clogged ears, but what if water is the source of the problem? If you have trapped water in your ear, the best way to remove it is to let gravity do its job.

Lie down or sleep on your side with the affected ear facing down, and the problem will usually be resolved overnight.

If you need a quicker fix, you can try using a blow dryer on low heat 6 inches from your ear. Be careful not to burn your ear.

Rinsing the ear with a few drops of alcohol may also help remove water.

6. Over-the-counter drugs

Home remedies are good, but there are times when we need something a little stronger.

Especially if you suffer from allergies or congested sinuses, it can be difficult to get adequate relief without treating the underlying condition.

Decongestant tablets and steroid nasal sprays are great for colds and flu, while antihistamines are best for allergies.

However, be careful—decongestant pills may interact with other medications and health conditions such as high blood pressure, so check with your pharmacist or doctor if it is safe for you.

Nasal decongestant sprays should never be used for more than three days, or they can cause overload—just put it in, your body adjusts to the medication, and you end up more congested than when you started taking medication.

7. Professional ear syringing

If you have excess wax that you can't remove at home, then a professional ear syringe is the best solution.

Don't try this at home as you need special skills and tools. The process involves pointing the tip of the syringe at the edge of the ear and spraying water. When the wax is weakened, it can be removed with medical tweezers.

How to clean your ears and what not to do

Hopefully you already know that cotton earbuds or ear sticks are a no-no when it comes to cleaning your ears.

When my friend told me the story of how a piece of cotton got stuck deep inside his ear, it made me shudder! I don't know how he did it because the cotton is tied pretty tightly to the stick. In any case, I never want to find out!

That's not all. Ear sticks force the wax deeper into the ear canal rather than removing it, and if you go too deep, you can permanently damage your eardrum. If you must use them, stick to the outer ear.

If you have a perforated eardrum or an ear infection, you should not apply any liquid to your ear. This eliminates most of the procedures above. In these cases, you need to see a doctor.

If you're thinking about trying to listen, I don't recommend it. This is an alternative remedy that uses a candle with one end and the other end placed in the ear.

Ear suppositories "are hazardous to health when used in the dosage or manner, or with the frequency and duration, prescribed, recommended, or suggested in their labeling."

How to Clean Your Ears: Warning Signs

If you have an ear infection, don't try to treat it at home, see your doctor instead. If your symptoms are very severe or last more than two weeks, you should also get it checked.

Some other warning signs mean it's time to see a professional. These include swelling, fever or pain in the ears. These symptoms do not go away even with painkillers.

How to clean your ears: conclusion

I hope you found a solution for your clogged ears in this article. Sometimes it's a case of trial and error if you're not sure of the cause, but for most mild symptoms these remedies will work.

It happens that we suddenly realize that our hearing has become a little worse than before. It may be too early to sound the alarm; most likely the culprit is simple cerumen tubes that have formed in our ears. How to remove wax accumulation in the ears painlessly, effectively and quickly, without resorting to the help of doctors? The secret is quite simple.

How to clean your ears at home?

To do this we need a bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Try placing this product gently in one ear. Don't be afraid to overdo it, pour in a large amount of hydrogen peroxide. Then take a body position so that hydrogen peroxide does not flow out of your ear. Wait five minutes. The peroxide will start to bubble, but don't worry, it works. After 5 minutes, press with sharp movements on the ear donut, thus pushing out both the plug and the peroxide. To completely clean the ear and free it from wax, repeat this procedure several times if necessary. After one ear has been completely cleaned, you need to repeat this procedure with the other ear from start to finish.

It is common for wax to accumulate in the ears. Under the influence of moisture and some mechanical factors, the wax swells, thus blocking the ear lumen and causing partial hearing loss. You can try to remove wax plugs from your ears at home, and then consult a doctor.

You will need:

• Boric alcohol
• Soda solution
• 3% hydrogen peroxide solution

Wax plugs can be removed by softening them. Prepare a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide and inject it into the ear canal with a clean syringe without a needle. Do not insert the syringe very deeply, since the stream of liquid will itself reach the sulfur plug and affect the sulfur mass. Hydrogen peroxide will fizz out with pieces of sulfur. Let's wait until all the solution has flowed out, to do this we tilt our head in the same direction.

Wipe the auricle with a cotton swab to remove any remaining moisture. We repeat the softening procedure twice a day for a week to completely clean the ear canal and restore hearing. After the procedure, so that the ear dries quickly, we warm the ear with an incandescent lamp. If pressure, pain, or discomfort occurs during the procedure, you should stop the procedure and consult a doctor.

Removing wax plug

Let's prepare the ear for removal of the wax plug: drip a weak soda solution into the ear canal for 3 days. Let's soften the sulfur plug by dropping a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide, while straightening the ear canal. We wash the plug with a syringe, pull the ear back and up a little, and pour water at room temperature into the ear canal under pressure. Apply boric alcohol to the ear.

Special preparations for home use

In order to remove wax plugs from your ears at home, you need to purchase a solution for dissolving ear wax at the pharmacy. We drip the emulsion according to the instructions and in five days the usual plug will dissolve and be removed. The ear canal needs to be cleaned twice a day. Similar drugs are used to prevent the formation of sulfur plugs.

If you can't remove the plug

If you have questions about removing wax plugs, you should contact an otolaryngologist. It is necessary to remove the wax plug, as it can cause diseases such as otitis externa, hearing loss, and so on. The doctor will rinse the ear with a medical syringe under pressure with a small amount of water. This is a painless and quick procedure. After rinsing, relief will come, hearing will be restored, and the pain will go away. To prevent earwax, otolaryngologists advise not to wipe your ears dry after a shower, but to dry them with a hairdryer or drip a little alcohol into your ears.

When dealing with personal hygiene, many people neglect their ears, cleaning them on the run with the first objects that come to hand (hairpins, pins, etc.), without even thinking about the fact that improperly performing such a procedure can not only damage the skin of the hearing organ , but also provoke the development of hearing loss.

The human hearing organ includes 3 sections: , and . We clean the outer part, consisting of the concha and the external auditory canal. Fortunately, other components of the hearing system are inaccessible to humans.

The auditory canal is lined with skin, which, in addition to fat, produces a special substance -

Sulfur is not a useless secret that pollutes a person's ears. It performs the protective function of the entire hearing analyzer from the penetration of pathogenic agents that cause inflammatory processes, and also cleanses the ear of dead epithelial cells.

In addition, it protects the delicate skin of the ear from drying out, dust, and small particles.

If the glands function normally, then sulfur is removed independently when performing chewing movements or when talking. In such a situation, ordinary hygiene measures (shower, bath) are sufficient, since earwax in this case comes out on its own and is washed off.

Earwax is a kind of barrier against the penetration of various microbes into the ear.

If the functioning of the glands is impaired or hygiene standards are not observed, excessive accumulation of earwax occurs. It blocks the ear canal, promoting the formation of hearing loss and creating favorable conditions for the development of pathogens.

In order to prevent such phenomena, you need to systematically clean your ears at home.

Reference. Cleaning the ear at home should be carried out in compliance with the “golden mean”, that is, excessively active cleaning can lead to disruption of the glands, and as a result, a sharp increase or decrease in the secretion of sulfur is possible.

Excessive accumulation of wax leads to the formation of ear plugs, but the lack of this secret also causes certain deviations. Due to the lack of enzyme, the skin dries out, so the ear itches all the time.

Therefore, in order to avoid such problems, you need to adhere to the correct hygiene procedures for the hearing organ.

How to clean a person's ears

In order for a person to be able to clean their ears from wax at home, pharmacies offer a fairly large assortment of various products in the form of drops and sprays.

The following drugs are especially popular:

Hydrogen peroxide effectively dissolves sulfur formations

Important! Oil solutions have one very significant drawback - they create a comfortable environment for the growth and development of various microbes and infections.

Despite the fact that these drugs are available in any pharmacy chain, it is better to use them only after consultation with a specialist. Since these substances, like any other drug, may have their own characteristics of use and a list of contraindications.

How to properly clean your ears

The best time to clean your ears is after swimming.

If wax production is abundant, then ear cleaning should be done more often as it accumulates.

As noted earlier, ears are capable of self-cleaning, therefore, the more often you clean them, the more “lazy” they become and the more dirty they become.

So, how to clean your ears well without harming your auditory system?

To do this, you need to know several rules for performing such an event:

1. It is best to clean your ears after swimming, when the skin is as steamed and softened as possible.
2. Take a cotton swab and gently rub it over the shell of your ear. It is also possible to clean the ear canal, but only from the outside. You should not go deep inside the ear canal with such a stick!
3. If there is excessive production of wax, it can clog the ear canal. Then you need to regularly clean your ears, but not with cotton swabs, but with flagella. To do this, you need to form a small flagellum from cotton wool, moisten it with a special liquid for cleaning the ears and carefully clean the ear canal with circular movements.

There is nothing else you need to do to clean your ears at home. If a sulfur plug is discovered, then it is better to entrust the removal of it to an ENT specialist.

Since many ear compounds are not able to completely eliminate the problem, since they only dissolve the surface of the wax plug.

Reference. Many people, out of habit, begin to clean their ears with cotton swabs, which should not be done. Because they are not designed for high-quality cleaning of the ear canals. Moreover, such sticks only compact the sulfur, pushing it deeper.

How to clean your child's ears at home

Infants' ears need to be cleaned weekly with special sticks with limiters.

Every parent should know how to properly clean their baby's ears.

To correctly perform such a delicate procedure, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

• Cleaning should be done a couple of times a month (for infants - every week). It is possible to increase the frequency of procedures only in a situation where the child has excessive discharge from the ears;
• It is better to clean small ears after bathing with a special swab with a restrictor (can be found in any pharmacy or children's store) or a homemade flagellum made of cotton wool or gauze. From time to time cleaning can be done with a peroxide solution (3%). To do this, you need to moisten a swab in the substance and wipe the auricle with it and clean the ear canal with circular movements;
• It is necessary to rinse the auricle with warm water every day.

Important! You should not remove wax plug from a child yourself. It is better to entrust the procedure to a professional.

Many parents note frequent otitis in their children, and they do not even suspect that in many cases this involves cleaning the ears. Moms and dads don’t believe that the less often you clean your baby’s ears, the healthier they will be.

But this does not mean that you should stop cleaning them altogether. Don't go to extremes. This hygienic procedure should be carried out as needed.

– this is a very important event that must be approached with all responsibility, since this is the key to healthy ears and good hearing.

It is always necessary to remember that the human hearing organ is one of the five senses, and without its normal functioning it will be extremely difficult for a person to navigate the world around him.

The formation of wax in the ear is a physiological process. Due to the presence of substances in its composition that have antiseptic and antimicrobial effects, earwax performs a protective function in the ear. In addition, it prevents excessive wetting of the external auditory canal and the development of congestion in it. Consequently, the presence of wax in the ear prevents inflammation of both the outer and middle ear.

In most cases, earwax is cleared from the ear on its own. In addition, the removal of wax from the ears becomes possible thanks to regular toileting of the external auditory canal. However, in some cases, it accumulates excessively, which can lead to the formation of ear plugs.

Signs of an ear plug

The presence of ear plugs is a pathological process and is accompanied by the development of certain clinical symptoms.

Typical signs of ear plug formation are ear congestion, tinnitus, hearing loss, and even the development of deafness.

In cases where the ear plug is located in close proximity to the eardrum, dizziness and nausea may occur. If an infectious pathogen enters the external auditory canal, the ear plug can contribute to the development of ear inflammation. Let's talk in more detail about how to remove wax from the ears.

Procedures performed by an ENT doctor

The most effective way to get rid of earwax is to immediately contact a specialist, where the necessary medical assistance will be provided in a specialized office. When this process develops, consultation with an otolaryngologist is especially important, since similar symptoms may occur with ear inflammation. Timely consultation and the prescription of correct treatment will contribute to a speedy recovery. At the same time, if there is an ear plug, the doctor will be able to analyze the cause of its appearance, give recommendations on further tactics and rules for toileting the ear.

The presence of wax plug is an indication for its washing out. Having inserted a syringe with saline solution into the ear, the doctor moves the piston, washing out the dense ear plug. If necessary, several similar manipulations are performed until the liquid becomes clear. If there are signs of otitis externa, ear drops that have an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory effect, or containing an antibacterial component.

Patient-administered ear toilet

How to clean earwax from ears at home depends on the availability of available products. The most common way to remove wax from the ears is to use a syringe or syringe without a needle. Having filled a bulb or syringe with warm boiled water, it is necessary to release a stream of water under pressure into the external auditory canal. Such rinsing must be repeated until the water flowing from the ear becomes clear. The procedure should be carried out extremely carefully so as not to injure the skin of the external auditory canal and, especially, the eardrum.

Despite the analogy with the procedure performed by a specialist, washing out wax at home is associated with the risk of injury to the eardrum. An ENT doctor has the skills to perform such a procedure. In addition, the specialist controls this manipulation visually, which prevents damage to the ear. In this regard, carrying out the procedure in a specialized office is more preferable.

Use of medications

Currently, there is a varied range of pharmacological agents to use to rinse your ears from wax. The most effective and safe pharmacological drugs used even in children are

• A-Cerumen;
• Remo-vax;
• Audi spray and Audi baby.

These topical medications are used as prophylactics for excessive sulfur formation. In addition, they help clear wax from the ears if there are wax plugs.

For preventive purposes, drugs can be used twice a month. Removing wax plugs using these pharmacological agents may take 3-4 days. During this time, this drug should be instilled into the ear at the intervals specified in the instructions, and then the dissolved wax plug can be washed out with prepared saline solution or warm water. The dosage form may be a spray or ear drops, depending on the patient's preference.

A very popular way to clear ear wax is a procedure using 2% hydrogen peroxide. To do this, several drops of hydrogen peroxide are instilled into the ear to be cleaned, after which the patient should lie on his side for 10-15 minutes, and the instilled ear should be on top.

The presence of hissing indicates the action of hydrogen peroxide and should not be a cause for concern.

After the required time has passed, the patient should turn over to the other side. The solution with wax residues will flow freely from the instilled ear. You can dry the ear canal by using cotton swabs or swabs. If necessary, the procedure should be repeated over the next 2-3 days.

Usually such ear toilet is tolerated quite well. The procedure is characterized by ease of implementation and accessibility. In addition, it is quite safe. However, the appearance of severe burning and pain during the manipulation indicates the need to immediately stop it.

In this case, you should consult an otolaryngologist. It may be necessary to clarify the diagnosis, and we are not talking about the presence of cerumen, but the development of otitis media with perforation of the eardrum.

The presence of an injured eardrum is a contraindication for any procedure using pharmacological drugs.

When choosing a method for removing earwax, an important condition must be met. The idea is that the plug should come out on its own. To assist in the procedure, do not use ear sticks or similar devices. There are cases of the development of severe complications associated specifically with rough cleaning of the ear canal. After the remains of the wax plug are washed out with the solution, you should rinse your ear with warm water. To prevent excessive sulfur formation, many otolaryngologists advise not to wipe the auricle and ear canal after water procedures with a towel or napkin, but to dry it with a hairdryer.

How to remove wax in the ears is a problem that is most relevant for those groups of the population that have increased wax formation or a reduced ability to remove it. Most often, the formation of an ear plug is characteristic of

Such patients should find their own individual approach to solving this problem. In cases where ear plugs are formed due to excessive wax production, it is necessary to develop the optimal frequency of ear cleansing. If there are anatomical features of the ear structure, preventive measures with periodic use of pharmacological agents are more appropriate.

Regular ear cleaning has always been an important part of body hygiene. But, unfortunately, not everyone knows how to properly clean their ears. If performed incorrectly, this procedure can be dangerous for hearing, especially for children, whose still very soft eardrums can be easily injured from mechanical stress. Therefore, this issue should be taken seriously, using only the safest methods of cleansing.

Why does wax form in the ears?

First of all, you need to understand the purpose of sulfur, because in the human body not a single process happens for nothing. There are about 2,000 sulfur glands in the ear canal, which in healthy people secrete up to 20 g of sulfur per month. Of course, this mechanism carries useful functions for the body:

1. natural hydration of the ear canal occurs;
2. due to the presence of immunoglobulins in sulfur, protection against fungi and bacteria is provided;
3. an obstacle is created for small insects to penetrate into the ear;
4. sulfur binds dust particles and carries them out.

The smart body also provides a way to remove wax from the ears. It is naturally expelled during active jaw movements, such as chewing, talking, coughing and sneezing. This is a self-sufficient system that does not require outside intervention. However, it is still necessary for a person to clean their ears, since wax peeping out of the ears is unacceptable in modern society. Therefore, we will consider the most common ways in which you can clean your ears at home, from the point of view of their safety for health.

Cotton buds

Most of the population is accustomed to cleaning their ears with cotton swabs, but otolaryngologists have been sounding the alarm about this for a long time. In fact, with chopsticks we push the sulfur inward more than we pull it out. The more often cleaning occurs, the greater the accumulation of sulfur at the eardrum. And by pushing a cotton swab into your ear again, you risk rupturing the membrane, which in the worst case scenario can lead to complete hearing loss in that ear.

This method is especially dangerous for children. Thus, in 70% of cases, rupture of the eardrum in children occurs due to the fault of parents who tried to clean their ears with cotton swabs. Even if such serious problems can be avoided, cotton swabs will in any case injure the child’s delicate skin, thereby increasing the risk of inflammation.

Instead of sticks, doctors recommend using cotton wool, which you can easily make yourself from ordinary medical cotton wool or cotton pads. You won’t be able to push them too deep into the ear, and the absence of a solid base will completely eliminate the risk of damage to the eardrum.

For those who are not ready to give up cotton swabs, there is only one safe option for using them. You need to clean your ears with them in 2 stages:

1. We clean the ear itself.
2. We insert the stick 0.5 cm inside the ear and clean the upper part of the ear canal from wax and other contaminants.

This is quite enough for normal ear hygiene, since everything will be clean on the outside, but at the same time enough substances necessary to protect the body will remain in the ear canals. If sulfur is formed in too large quantities, this is a reason to visit an otolaryngologist, who will determine the cause of the deviation and prescribe appropriate treatment. Oddly enough, it is excessive cleaning with cotton swabs that can provoke hypersecretion of sulfur, since constant mechanical irritation only promotes stimulation of the glands. Other reasons include chewing gum for a long time, listening to loud music with headphones, or using a Bluetooth headset.

Specialized drugs

You can safely remove wax from your ears using products specially designed for this purpose. They are released in the form of drops, which must be poured into the ear canal, and after 1-2 minutes, tilt your head so that all the liquid, along with wax and impurities, flows out of the ear.

Such preparations are additionally enriched with oils and vitamins so that they have a moisturizing and nourishing effect on the skin in the ears. Another advantage of the drops is that they are harmless to children. The drugs can be used starting from 1 year.

But in some situations the use of such drugs is contraindicated. These include:

• the presence of an ear infection, which is usually accompanied by redness, swelling, pain and purulent discharge from the ear canal;
• perforations (microcracks) of the eardrums;
• shunting of membranes, as well as a period of one year after removal of the shunt;
• allergy to the components of the drug.

In addition to the existence of contraindications, the disadvantages of ear cleaning products include financial costs. Using them on an ongoing basis will result in a fairly serious amount of money. Therefore, it is advisable to take such remedies only if there are problems with the natural removal of wax from the ears, for example, with a tendency to form wax plugs or with narrow ear canals.

Ear cleaning devices

In order to cleanse earwax most effectively, you can purchase special electrical devices. They come in two types:

• mechanical;
• vacuum

Mechanical devices have rotating attachments that are shaped like cotton swabs. But they are made of soft silicone, which delicately removes dirt and wax from the ear canal without irritating the skin.

In vacuum devices, cleansing occurs by pumping air out of the ear canal, which is ensured by the operation of a small pump. Like a vacuum cleaner, the device removes wax and dirt from the ear.

If you value your reputation as a well-groomed person, you will have to regularly take care of your ears. But to avoid the risk of hearing loss, it is important to learn how to properly clean your ears and choose the most appropriate option among all wax removal methods.